More than three months after the Vieux Carre Commission approved plans for Habana Outpost, a Cuban restaurant planned for the corner of Esplanade Avenue and North Rampart Street, the New Orleans City Council Thursday (Dec. 19) will consider a request from several residents to overturn the commission's approval.

The VCC voted 7-1 in September to approve developer Sean Meenan's architectural plans and a change-of-use request

Since first being announced last year, the Habana Outpost project has stirred strong opinions on both sides of the issue.

Proponents say the development will bring much needed commerce and activity to a property that has sat vacant for decades.

Opponents claim it does not fit in with the historic character of the French Quarter and will bring too much traffic to the residential neighborhood.

Habana Outpost will occupy an abandoned gas station at 1040 Esplanade Ave. and a vacant building at 1310 N. Rampart St. Meenan purchased the buildings for more than $1.7 million and bought an additional property at 1036 Esplanade Ave. for $510,000 that will be used for residential and commercial purposes.

The business will have a seating capacity of between 205 and 223 customers. Meenan said he has an agreement in place to use the former site of Ty's Auto Sales in the 1400 block of North Rampart Street as a parking lot for up to 50 vehicles.

Meenan first presented his proposal to the VCC's Architectural Committee on July 24, 2012. It was deferred numerous times by committee members who requested significant design revisions including the removal of solar panels.